Weekly Reading Round-Up
Hi, all! Mostly, I’ve been re-reading Heyer this week (along with L.M. Montgomery’s Blue Castle and Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle, Heyer is a favorite comfort read), but since I’ve discussed Heyer so much here on the site recently, I won’t go into details.
Instead, since I could very much use some new recommendations, I’d rather throw it over to you this week. What have you been reading?
I’ve been reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, I’m still uncertain as to whether I like it. Great mood and atmosphere, but just lacking a little on the plot points… could still change, I have about 100 pages left.
right now I’m reading an ARC of Angelfire by CA Moulton, which is a pretty good YA fantasy debut (so far).
I also re-read And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander, seeing the gorgeous new cover for Dangerous to Know inspired me to pick that series back up!
I read Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn which was fantaaaaaastic. Love that series, and love her!
Lastly, read Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel. Another YA fantasy debut…but a spectacular one.
I finished the last of the Hathaway books, Love in the Afternoon, which was fabulous, of course. Now I’m reading One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare and listening to the Mysteries of Udolpho on my way to and from school.
Right now I’m tucking into A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym, someone I think you’d enjoy–she’s very wry and observant. She writes a lot about parish life in 1950s London, lots of vicars and spinsters, officers and Wrens, and the follies of imagined covert affairs. There’s something mildly Miss Gwen about her books. I’d start with Excellent Women.
When I finish it, I’ll continue my Spinster Kick with Diary of a Provincial Lady (E.M. Delafield). Then I think I’ll adopt about 10 cats and take up knitting.
Just started “Silent in the Grave” and finished Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens. This is an evil website, introducing me to new authors and forcing me to buy more books!! I love it!
I’ve slowed down…still working on An Infamous Army by Heyer. Started “Lady Whistledown Strikes Back” by Quinn, Hawkins, Enoch and ???.
I’m playing with my new Nook so I have a feeling I’ll be downloading a lot of freebies the next few weeks so that I don’t catch my self going over my book budget until it pays for the Nook. 🙂
I’m still reading Crime and Punishment. I just picked up Dracula by Bram Stoker. I don’t have much of an opinion quite yet since I am only on page 4. Ha.
You might want to try Mary Hays’s “Memoirs of Emma Courtney” or Amelia Opie’s “Adeline Mowbray: Mother and Daughter.” They’re both British Romantic novels written during the 1790s (and I haven’t found references to either yet in your novels, though I have seen references to Fanny Burney’s work). “Emma Courtney” even has a very persistent suitor and a harrowing carriage ride.
I’ve gone back to my reread of the Scarlet Pimpernel series for a little while. Earlier this week I read Mam’zelle Guillotine. Then my request for The Unincorporated War by the Kollin brothers came in from the library, but after eighty pages I decided that the tone was too inconsistant for me, so I went back to my rereading again and started Eldorado.
I am reading Three Men in a Boat by Jerome: incredibly witty, onde one gets into it, and Tracy Grants Secrets of A lADY. bbOTH TERRIFIC, SO FAR !! NOTE TO SELF: MUST QUIT WORK TO SUCH UP ON ALL THESE GREAT RECCOMMENDATIONS !
sry ABOUT CAPS…JUST GOT OFF 12 HOUR SHIFT….BEDTIME….
I’m currently reading Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas. I’ve heard such conflicting things about this romance I was curious to finally get around to reading it – so far I really like it! So I guess I’m in the crowd that’s for it rather than against it. Seems to be either or with this book. I’m also reading Night’s Rose by Annaliese Evans which I’m enjoying. It’s an historical paranormal vampire slayer novel (boy, that’s a mouthful!) but it’s pretty good so far and might just quench my thirst for something as good as Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles which I loved. We shall see.
Almost done with The Cookbook Collector. Just awful. Definitely recommend that everyone stays far far away from it. Tana French’s Faithful Place is up next.
I’ve been at a conference, so my pace slowed for a while, but I took Bill Bryson’s _In a Sunburned Country_, detailing his travels in Australia. If you don’t know Bryson’s work, RUN to the nearest Borders and grab anything he wrote, at random. Do not drink liquids while reading; they may come out your nose! For starters, though, I’d say either _The Lost Continent_ (US), or _Notes from a Small Island_ (England). Hi.lar.i.ous.
I just finished reading “The Duke and I,” the first of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, last night. Today I started on “I Remember You,” the latest from Harriet Evans, and so far so good!
@ Jessica – Isn’t Bill Bryson the author of A Walk in the Woods as well? I love that book! 🙂
Last week I read Heyer as well
Regency Buck
Arablla
Also Susan Elizabeth Phillip’s
First Lady
Jessica S, have you read Bryson’s “I’m a Stranger Here Myself”? It’s his essays on returning to America after half a lifetime in England. Definitely food-snorting funny. I’ve read his English ones, but I still have to get “Sunburned Country” and “A Walk in the Woods”.
Rebecca, I just picked up “I Remember You”, too! I’m hoarding it for a plane ride the week after next. Glad to hear it’s good….
Thanks, L. Frank! Those both sound excellent– especially “The Memoirs of Emma Courtney”.
@ Gina: Yes, that’s the one!
@ Lauren: I haven’t, YET! It’s definitely on my list!
I just finished the Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. Very sad and aimed at the 14-18 year old set. Working on Run, by Ann Patchett and Georgette’s Heyer The Black Moth.
@ Allison — how ever did you manage to get a copy of Dark Road to Darjeeling?
I Capture the Castle is probably my favorite book of all time (along with Pride and Prejudice of course). I just finished The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, it was wonderful. Another favorite of mine is The Historian which I highly recommend.